SUQUAMISH — Clearwater Casino was evacuated for over an hour early April 30, and eight employees were taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton with breathing problems.

The employees reportedly had “minor breathing issues,” North Kitsap Fire & Rescue spokeswoman Michele Laboda reported. One employee was taken by paramedic unit to Harrison with serious breathing problems which improved significantly during transport, Laboda reported.

NKF&R crews were dispatched to the casino at 10:40 a.m. when three individuals were reported experiencing “respiratory distress.” The first arriving crew determined that there could be additional persons affected and called for additional assistance from Bainbridge Island Fire Department and Bainbridge Ambulance. The employee areas of the casino building were evacuated.

No customers reported any ill effects in the incident and there was never any evidence of the fumes in the building’s public areas.

The crews were unable to locate the source of the fumes, so NKF&R’s duty chief and casino management made the decision to evacuate the entire casino as a precaution at about 11:15 a.m. Officials spent the next hour trying to locate the fumes’ origin, according to the press release.

Firefighters believe the source may have been exhaust from construction equipment, according to the release. The facility is in the midst of major renovations. By 12:30 p.m., the odor dissipated and gas detectors showed no readings, so officials “gave the OK” to reoccupy the casino.

Casino management and their contractors continue to investigate in an effort to ensure the problem doesn’t reoccur.